Method and device to enable and assist the elderly and females to exercise their thigh and gluteus muscles

ABSTRACT

This squat exercise machine is comprised of a dynamic seat connected to a dynamic foot-plate where the weights are used to counter the weight of the exerciser and thereby assist him to raise himself from a squatting position to a starting sitting position. The squat exercise machine exercises the thigh muscles otherwise known as the quadriceps and the buttock muscles otherwise known as the gluteus group of muscles. At least one adjustable hand bar is positioned to aid entry to and exit from the machine and at least one handle to help to stabilize the user while exercising. 
     A method for using the assisted squat exerciser is comprised of sitting on the dynamic seat, and with the aid of gravity, allowing the body to lower towards the floor whereupon the legs will be in a squatting position. With the aid of the weights, the thigh and gluteus muscles lift the seated body to its starting sitting position.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention is in the field of exercise resistance machines forimprovement of general heath, especially strengthening the thigh andbuttock muscles known in Latin as quadriceps and gluteus. These musclescontrol the ability to stand up from a seated position, increase thighstrength, knee stability and thereby reduce falls, improves walking,standing, and movement. The exercising provides physiotherapeuticeffects to strengthen, build and rebuild muscles and bone mass andprevent muscle and bone mass deterioration. This patent relates to andcaters for the special needs of the elderly, those convalescing frominjury or surgery and for women.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The use of machines for exercising the body is well known in the art.For many decades it has been considered beneficial for a person's healthto exercise regularly. The benefits are many and probably some that weare not yet aware. A few of the better known benefits are to thefunctioning of the heart, the blood vessels, the blood cells, themuscles, the bone structure, the functioning of the brain, the levels ofcholesterol and blood sugars, and the general feeling of well-being.There was a time when it was felt to be not so beneficial for theelderly to exercise but now it is considered also very beneficial.Obviously, the degree of stress on the body and length of time of suchexercise varies from person to person depending on age, general healthand any specific disabilities endured.

One of the factors that make it difficult for the elderly is their lackof agility. They often have pain when moving their various limbs. Thisdiscourages them from starting to exercise even though when they haveexercised, usually they feel better than beforehand. If they avoidexercising then they do not enjoy the many side benefits of exercisingand a vicious cycle is sometimes created whereby their healthdeteriorates generally. Most prior art exercise machines do not takeinto account the special needs of the elderly and therefore help tocreate this barrier. The machines are often cumbersome, sometimescomplicated to operate, without easily understandable instructions,without handles to aid entering and exiting and without taking intoaccount the sometimes frail and painful limbs of the elderly. They arebasically designed for the young and middle aged.

The elderly either currently suffer from ailments that are best assistedby controlled exercise or are likely to suffer from such ailments ifthey do not exercise, for example, heart disease, weight control,walking stability, osteoporosis or lower back pains.

Daily activities, that a younger person performs automatically withoutrealizing how many muscles and joints are involved, can be a major causeof pain and other discomforts throughout the day for the elderly ordisabled.

Examples of such daily activities are bending to tie shoes, getting inand out of the car or bath, walking up stairs or a hill, pushing ashopping cart, carrying groceries and simply stretching to reach items.These are but a few of the hundreds of activities that an elderly personhas to do daily and without regular exercising and muscle strengtheningthese everyday activities become more difficult as the person ages.

Women are more prone than men to a bone disease called osteoporosis,usually from the age of menopause and older. One of the majorrecommended preventative measures for osteoporosis is regular exercisingof the weight bearing kind in order to increase the bone mass.Furthermore, females more than males, require special features inexercise machines to cater for their more delicate body structuresTherefore, it would be preferable for the elderly, those convalescingand females, to use exercise machines that are purpose built and userfriendly for their specific needs. The apparatus of this invention isspecifically and professionally designed for the special needs of thisgroup of users. The innovation of this invention includes and/or takesinto account amongst others, the following factors:

-   -   the user's general lack of agility and possibility of various        pains when moving into position to start exercising, during the        exercising and when exiting,    -   to give as much as possible clutter free access and a minimum of        overhead apparatus to ease entry/exit and to avoid accidental        injury to the user or a helper of the user,    -   a dynamic seat.    -   weights that are an adjustable counter-balance to the body        weight,    -   a foot-plate that is dynamic, adjusting its angle        proportionately to the height of the seat to reduce strain to        the knees, lower back and the Achilles Tendon,        -   the need for smaller gradations of weights so that the            counter balance effect can be gradually decreased,        -   the proper placing of handles and bars to aid entering and            leaving the machines and stabilizing handles to optionally            hold while exercising,        -   notices and instructions written in clear language and large            print,            and many other features for the benefit of the infirm as are            herein described in greater detail.

Prior art has addressed some aspects of the needs of older people. Forexample, U.S. Pat. No. 5,308,302 issued to Miller reveals a moveableexercise machine that can be brought to a chair ridden person toexercise. The novelty is more in the portability features than the useof the machine itself. US Patent Application No. 20040220019 issued toMaser reveal a special feature for older people namely that in a pedalmachine both pedals can start at their lowest level instead of one upand one down. The Japanese Patent No. 2004016577 issued to Shigeo et al.reveals an exercise machine where the user can exercise in a recumbentposition but the range of movements of the arms and legs is limited withno possibility of increasing or decreasing the stress to the arms orlegs. Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 6,652,419 issued to Rota showing howbeneficial the rebounding type of exercise is for all aged usersespecially the elderly.

The uniqueness of this invention is the combination of all its variousfeatures into one device as are herein described.

After years of research the innovators of this invention have foundsolutions to the above mentioned problems generally and to the specificproblems and needs of the elderly and infirm. The result is incorporatedin the apparatus of this invention as hereinafter described. The resultis a user friendly machine that the infirm will want to use because itanswers their special needs. It will help them overcome that soimportant initial step of starting to exercise.

The commercial potential for such machines is great. Firstly thepurchaser could be an end user of the exercise machine of this inventionor an exercise club that also wishes to cater for the elderly, infirm orthose recuperating from injury. Such exercise clubs will be able toattract more members and from a wider range of population. Exerciseclubs for women only, will be able to offer machines user friendly forfemales. Old-age homes are likely purchasers of these machines, toimprove the overall health of their members, to usefully occupy theirtime and to attract new members by showing quality facilities. Hotelsoften have exercise rooms and will want to provide quality facilitiesfor their elderly customers. Hospitals or homes for rehabilitation aftermedical operations or accidents are another likely customer for suchmachines. Most of the features designed for older people will alsoassist people recouping from illness or operations. They will recoverfaster, reduce the number of visits to the physiotherapist and be happythat they are helping themselves to become independent and return totheir normal routine.

The manufacturers of this invention will be catering for a market thatis expanding rapidly both by the greater percentage of people living toolder ages and the increasing awareness amongst all sectors of thepopulation that regular exercising is a key to improved health. Healthfunds have already recognized how many millions of dollars they saveeach year when their members maintain a better standard of health. As aresult these health funds often subsidize for their members, themembership fees of exercise clubs. All these factors will contribute tothe commercial success of this invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description present embodiments of the invention,and are intended to provide an overview, or framework, for understandingthe nature and character of the invention as it is claimed. Theaccompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding ofthe invention, and are incorporated into and constitute a part of thisspecification. The drawings illustrate various embodiments of theinvention and, together with the description serve to explain theprinciples and operations of the invention.

An object of this invention is to provide a machine to exercise andthereby strengthen the thigh (quadriceps) and buttock (gluteus) musclesas well as maintain bone mass of the elderly, infirm and females. Thismuscle strengthening and bone mass maintenance will in turn help toimprove balance, improve posture, increase ability to stand from thesitting position, increase pelvic suspension and reduce incidence offalls.

Another object of the invention is to assist the exerciser raise hisposition from squatting with the aid of adjustable weights that act ascounter-weights to the weight of his body.

Another object of the invention is to have a dynamic seat to enhance theexercising effect and better support the body throughout the full rangeof motion.

Another object of this invention is to enhance a person's ability tobalance.

Another object of this invention is for the said exercise machine to bestably resting on the ground when in use and optionally moveable when sodesired.

Another object of this invention is to ease the access to and exit fromthe exercise machine for example so that there is no overhangingapparatus potentially capable of causing head or other injury andwithout sharp edges protruding from the apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to have at least one adjustablestatic hand support bar to increase the user's stability while using themachine and/or while entering or exiting.

Another object of the invention is to make instructions for the usersimple to understand and written in large print in a color thatcontrasts with its background. It is also an object to permanently affixthe said instructions on the said exercising machine.

Another object of the invention is to have a picture on the body of theapparatus in a clearly visible position and color, illustrating aneveryday task. This task the infirm often find difficult to carry outand is made easier by strengthening the specific muscles that themachine of this invention helps to strengthen. State of art exercisemachines often mention on the machine the name of the muscles that willbe strengthened by the machine or sometimes they have a picture of thosemuscles in a picture of a body. The user of an exercise machine will beable to relate much easier to a picture of the everyday task that willbe enhanced by using the machine. It will give the user a greaterincentive to work diligently at the said exercises.

One of the everyday tasks that is associated with this invention isgetting up from a chair.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part ofthis specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and,together with the description, serve to explain, by way of example only,the principles of the invention:

Fig A is a side sectional diagram of the essential parts of the exercisemachine of this invention.

Fig B is a back sectional diagram of the essential parts of the exercisemachine of this invention.

Fig C is a top sectional diagram of the essential parts of the exercisemachine of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As will be appreciated the present invention is capable of other anddifferent embodiments than those discussed above and described in moredetail below, and its several details are capable of modifications invarious aspects, all without departing from the spirit of the invention.Accordingly, the drawings and description of the embodiments set forthbelow are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive.

Fig A shows the side view of this invention. The machine can be referredto as an assisted squat exercise machine 100. The user can use theadjustable static handle 156 (more clearly seen in Figs B and C 156) toassist maneuvering himself into position on the dynamic seat 102, tobegin to exercise. The adjustment mechanism 157 enables the user toadjust the static handle 156 to the position comfortable for his arm'slength. A spring loaded pin is placed in one of the holes of the discthat turns on the axle 158 thereby moving the handle 156 closer to orfurther from the seat 102. Once in position on the seat 102 the user maywish to hold onto the static side handles 104 and Fig C 104 to stabilizehimself while exercising or hold the adjustable static handle Fig B 156.

The meaning herein of an adjustable static handle is that its positionis adjustable using a spring loaded pin in a holed disc where the saidhandle is attached eccentrically onto the said disc. The different saidholes represent different distances of the said handle from the saidexerciser. Once the said pin is in position the handle remains staticuntil re-adjusted.

The function of the weights 106 in this invention is the opposite oftheir regular function of being the main source of resistance for themuscles being exercised. In this invention the weights act as acounter-weight to the weight of the body thereby helping the body risefrom the squatting position. The exerciser who is weak will use moreweights but as he strengthens his thigh and buttock muscles he will usefewer weights, making his said muscles work harder to straighten hislegs.

The weights 106 are housed in the weight housing 108 and are stackedvertically. The cable 110 is attached to a bored pin-rod 112 at one endand to a link 120 to the seat 102 at its other end. The cable 110 canbe, alternatively, a belt or a chain. The bored pin-rod 112 has at leastone hole corresponding to the number of weights 106. The weights 106each have a hole in them passing horizontally from front to back. Thepin 114 is inserted through the chosen weight and into one of the holesin the bored pin-rod 112. When the exerciser lowers himself in the seat102, the weight of his body will raise the weights 106. The amount ofweights 106 to rise is the one with the pin 114 through it and anyweights above it. The lower the pin 114 is placed in the stack ofweights 106, the more weights 106 will be lifted and hence the greaterthe assistance to the exerciser when he raises his body from thesquatting position.

The seat 102 moves on a rail 124 situated under the seat 102. As theexerciser lowers his body to a squatting position the seat 102 willslide forward to its front extremity of rail 124 giving maximum comfortand support to the exerciser as he goes into the squatting position. Thereverse movement namely as he rises from the squatting position, theseat 102 will slide backward to its rear extremity of rail 124. The saidsliding helps the gluteus muscles to exercise well. A static seat wouldlimit such movement and hinder the said exercising of the gluteusmuscles.

A further innovation of this invention is the dynamic foot-plate 130.The foot-plate 130 is attached to the link 132. Link 134, at its lowerend is attached to link 132 and at its upper end is attached to the seat102 via the link 120. There is a bearing 136 to which the link 134 isconnected. When seat 102 lowers, link 134, which is pivoted at thebearing 136 raises the link 132 and hence raises the foot-plate 130 atits lower end 131. The foot-plate 130 is pivotally attached to the frameof the exercising machine 100 at point 129. The effect of raising of thefoot-plate 130 when the exerciser is in a squatting position is toreduce the stretch effect on the Achilles tendon and reduce pressure onthe knees and lower back of the exerciser. The main purpose of thedynamic foot-plate 130 is to maintain the angle between the shin boneand the foot, close to 90° as the exerciser lowers to a squattingposition and as he returns to a straight legged position.

The reverse process occurs as the exerciser raises himself from thesquatting position. The lower end 131 of the footplate 130 will drop toits original position, preserving the close to 90° angle as describedabove.

Link 135 moves in parallel to link 134 and is attached to the seat 102at point 122 with a bearing. The links 134 and 135 support the seat 102,connect the weights 106 to the seat 102 via the cable 110 and providethe link to the foot-plate 130 as described above.

The half range limiter bar 137 is extendable and retractable as needed.It moves mechanically, sliding inside a cylindrical tube whose diameteris slightly larger than the limiter bar 137. The said cylindrical tubehousing is attached to the link 134. When extended, the bar 137 comesinto contact with the protrusion 139 as the seat 102 and link 134descend thereby preventing the full squat position. This feature andinnovation is to assist those with for example, restricted hip movementsafter a hip replacement operation. When the bar is retracted the seat102 is able to descend and thereafter ascend freely, utilizing itsmaximum range.

The adjustable seat height lever 140 is used to adjust the maximumheight of the seat 102 at the start of and during the exercising. Thelever 140 is spring loaded and attached to pin 146. The lever 140 ispivotally joined to disc 142 at coupling 148. When the lever 140 ispulled perpendicularly from the face of the disc 142, the pin 146 ispulled out of one of the seat height adjustment holes 144 and can bere-inserted in another hole 144. This adjustment changes the maximumheight of seat 102 as seat 102 is pivotally linked to the lever 140 anddisc 142 via the link 135 and bearing 122.

Fig B is the front view of the assisted squat exercise machine 100. Theparallel links 134 and 135 are connected to the seat 102 by the links152 and 150 respectively. The sliding seat rail 124 is situated underseat 102 and the static handles 104 are on either side of the seat 102.The adjustable static steadying handle 156 juts out perpendicular to theweight stack housing 108. The spring loaded adjustable seat height lever140 holds the pin 146 in its chosen hole as described in relation to FigA. The counterweight 154 counter-balances the weight of seat 102 and theapparatus attached thereto. The foot-plate 130 is opposite the seat 102.

Fig C shows the assisted squat exercise machine 100 from the top view.The parts visible in this figure are the dynamic seat 102, the staticsteadying handles 104 and the adjustable static handle 156. Thefoot-plate 130 is positioned opposite the seat 102 and next to theweights housing 108. The counter-weight 154 is to neutralize the weightof the seat 102 so that the exerciser exercises with the exact weight ofthe weights Fig A 106.

1. An exercise machine comprising a frame, a dynamic seat, a dynamicfoot-plate attached by a series of links to the said seat, adjustableassistance weights to assist the exerciser to rise from the squattingposition, at least one static handle to aid stabilization, wherebypeople generally and especially the elderly, infirm and females canexercise their quadriceps and gluteus muscles.
 2. An exercise machine asclaimed in claim 1 wherein the said resistance is adjustable.
 3. Anexercise machine as claimed in claim 2 wherein the said adjustability isin increments of at most two kilograms.
 4. An exercise machine asclaimed in claim 3 where the extent of the assistance is chosen by meansof inserting a pin in a horizontal hole passing through the width of achosen weight and into a bored pin-rod that is attached to a cablejoining the said bored pin-rod to the said dynamic seat whereby thatweight and all the weights above it are lifted by the said cable.
 5. Anexercise machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said weights areattached by means of a cable and pulleys to a pivotal link connecting tothe said dynamic seat.
 6. An exercise machine as claimed in claim 5wherein the said stack of weights and the said pin are easily accessibleand adjustable by the user of the said exercising machine.
 7. Anexercise machine as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a numbereddial with a means to adjust the position of the said stabilizationhandle.
 8. An exercise machine as claimed in claim 7 wherein the saidadjustment is effected with a spring-loaded pin entering synchronizedholes in two parallel adjacent discs, one disc being attached to thestationary frame of the said exercise machine and the other disc beingattached to the connecting bar of the said stabilization handle.
 9. Anexercise machine as claimed in claim 8 wherein the said adjustment isgraded by numbers on a disc.
 10. An exercise machine as claimed in claim1 further comprising a numbered dial with a means to adjust the maximumheight position of the said dynamic seat.
 11. An exercise machine asclaimed in claim 1 wherein the said dynamic seat moves on a railsituated on its longitudinal axis and underneath the said seat.
 12. Anexercise machine as claimed in claim 11 wherein the said dynamism isrepresented by the said seat sliding back and forth as the legs areraised and lowered during exercising.
 13. An exercise machine as claimedin claim 1 wherein the said seat and back-support is dynamic in an arcmotion.
 14. An exercise machine as claimed in claim 13 wherein the saidarc motion is a partial rotation on its central horizontal axis.
 15. Anexercise machine as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a retractablehalf range limiting bar attached to the frame of the said dynamic seatand a corresponding protrusion to intercede the free movement of thesaid limiting bar as the said dynamic seat descends.
 16. An exercisemachine as claimed in claim 1 further comprising at least three wheelsfor moving the said machine where at least one wheel mechanism lifts thesaid exercise machine off the ground causing the weight of the saidexercising machine to rest on the said wheel and of which at least onewheel is lockable thereby enabling the said exercise machine to restfirmly on the ground or optionally, be moved on the said wheels.
 17. Anexercise machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein the access to the saidexercise machine is open and uncluttered thereby easing the entry to andexit from the said exercising machine by the elderly or infirm andeasing the work of a helper of the said elderly or infirm.
 18. Anexercise machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said stabilization isduring entry to and exit from the said exercising machine as well asduring the action of exercising.
 19. An exercise machine comprising aframe, a dynamic constant-angle footrest for pressure-free support ofthe feet when pressing upwards from a squat position a dynamic seat withback-support, adjustable assistance weights to assist the exerciser torise from the squatting position, at least one static steadying handle,at least one adjustable static handle to aid stabilization, instructionsfor use of the said exercising machine, at least one picture of aneveryday task that is enhanced by the use of the said exercisingmachine, whereby people generally and especially the elderly, infirm andfemales can exercise their leg and buttock muscles.
 20. An exercisemachine as claimed in claim 19 wherein the said instructions are inlarge clear print well contrasted with the background of the said printbeing visible and readable by the user of the said exercise machine whenready to exercise.
 21. An exercise machine as claimed in claim 19wherein the said picture of an everyday task is affixed to the body ofthe said exercise machine in a position easily visible and designed tobe easily understandable which task is being represented.
 22. Anexercise machine as claimed in claim 21 wherein the said everyday taskis standing from a seated position.
 23. An exercise machine as claimedin claims 1 and 19 further comprising an adjustable seat height leverwherein the starting height of the said dynamic seat is adjustable bythe user thereby enabling users of differing heights to adjust themaximum height of the said dynamic seat to suit the height of the saidusers.
 24. An exercise machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein the saidcable is substituted by a belt or chain.